St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-01-06
WESTERN WATERWAYS.
a Matter Which Materially Con.
Germs Mlmnesota's Material inter

Germs MInneSota's Material inter
csts.
The report of the estate commission for the
Improvement OF the Mississippi river" con-
tains much matter of practical interest to the
people OF the state. The Improvement of our
Western waterways is q subject that especi-
ally concerns the material interests of Mime
Sofa, and should therefore receive such con-
sderaton at your hands US may promise to
prove means to that end. The head of
navigation of the Mississippi river and prac-
tcally of the great lake system, as we'll us of
the Red River OF the North. are within our
borders. large proportion of our products
finds its way to market through the two first
named of these waterways and the cost OF
railroad transportation upon the balance is
greatly lessened by the competition of these
water routes in the carrying trade. The
same is the case with our imports of heavy
merchandise, coal. etc. The low prices pra-
vailng for our agricultural products make
the question of the cost of their transporta-
ton to market an all important one ut the
present time Therein largely lies the solu-
ton of the problem with which our pro-
ducers are now wrestling, whether
they can successfully meet the COM
petition OF cheap labor elsewhere,
in the growing of food products for
the worlds consumption. The moderate eX-
peDditure made by the government in recent
years for the aid of navigation upon our
rivers and the lake has resulted IN more sub
Stantial benefit to the internal commerce of
the country than like expenditure elsewhere
upon its inland waterways. Such results
warrant demand upon the government for
carrying out of the comprehensive system
under which the work has thus for been
prosecuted.
The utility Of the reservoir system at the
sources of the Mississippi river has been
practically demOnstl ated during the past sea-
son of exceptional dryueSs. From June L
| until the close of navigation these reservoirs
were constantly drawn upon, and for three
months of the time to an extent that gave
foot higher wafer at St. Paul than would
otherwise have been the case as estimated
by the United States engineer in charge, thus
securing u good stage of water for the largest
steamers throughout the season OF naviga-
ton. The work for the Improvement of the
channcl OF the upper Mississippi is embar
raised on account OF the meager appropria-
tons for the purpose, but most substantial
benefit has accrued from the expenditure
already male.
The wonderful and perhaps unprecedented
growth of the commerce of Duluth, and the
rapid development of the mineral resources
Of our territOry bordering on the lake, pre-
sent in commanding form the i'm Jortance and
necessity OF the Improvement of orr hGrborS
on Lake Superior and the enlargement of the
Sault Ste. Marie canal. \ full presentation
of the facts illustrating the influence and eff
feet of these waterways in the development
of our re ources would doubtless prove rev.
citation even TO many of our own people. Ac
curate statistics of the commerce Of our riv-
erS and lake ports, collected aud published in
form tor general distribution, would prove
useful i'll demonstrating the utility of the i'm
provements desired. 1 would therefore
recommend that the river commission be au-
thoriZed to incur the expense necessary for
the collection of such statistics, the same to
be reported annually to the governor. a
proper expression of III IS legislature adj
dressed to congress respecting needed appro-
priauons for our waterways, would doubtless
aid our representatives in that BODY il their
efforts to secure the recognitlon demanded.